I missed yesterday, so there are two posts today.
I’d like to speak to the manager!!!
Most of my younger friends, would never believe that I have not always been an overweight middle aged man.
In fact, at one time you might call me attractive.
Might.
If your glasses were foggy and you hadn’t had cataract surgery.
However, I did okay for myself.
When I lived in Atlanta, I never really had a boyfriend.
Well, I had one for about 5 minutes. But that’s a story for another day.
I did date a bit. Although not much. I was too busy living my best life.
There are a few men who stand out in Atlanta. Matt, the boyfriend. Chris who tried to get me to like red wine. Dave, the artist. The guy whose name I’ll remember later, who went on to make a huge fortune in designing chandeliers. Tony, who I stayed in contact with and of course.
And Shel the furniture distributor.
This story is about Shel.
I have no idea, how we met.
I do remember our first date.
We had lunch, in the spring, at a café that over looked Piedmont Park.
He picked me up in his baby blue Mercedes convertible, and was the perfect gentleman.
He was easily 45, with a weathered appearance, that gave the impression he’d grown up on a sailboat. His face was tanned, and his hair was blondish grey. His eyes, were crystal blue and he spoke with a slight Norwegian accent.
The only thing I know about his wealth, was that he and his Norwegian family, owned a European furniture company and distribution center.
I never asked. He didn’t offer up much information.
We were never exclusive. We’d go out to mostly lunches, and early dinners. He’d drive me around town in the convertible and I felt like royalty. He was wicked funny, and very sweet.
His apartment, was in a high rise, and it had beautiful views of Atlanta.
One of the memories that I remember clearly was going to Neiman Marcuss with him where he was picking up and paying for pants that had been altered for him. When he paid, the register said $750. In 1988. What the fucking fuck.
He was in excellent shape and looked as good out of clothes as he did in his $750 pants. He really was beautiful.
We dated casually throughout the summer, and then our summer romance kind of fizzled. I don’t remember a conversation. I don’t remember a break up. I just remember one day I had a friend with a powder blue Mercedes convertible and the next day I didn’t.
Truth be told, I probably have his old phone number written in an address book in a box in my closet. And for the life of my I can’t remember his last name, which was Norwegian.
For a moment though, my star shone brightly.